By Loyd Matare
Cabinet yesterday approved sweeping reductions in licences, permits, levies, and fees across Zimbabwe’s transport sector, targeting passenger transport, haulage, taxis, tobacco transportation, and boating services.
The reforms also include parking fees, clamping and towing penalties, which have been halved across all local authorities, while vehicle number plates have been slashed from US$500 to US$50.
Number plates are now produced locally, and the new fee remains profitable.
The move follows the July 29, 2025, Cabinet decision to implement a raft of business reforms across twelve sectors of the economy.
Addressing the media during the post-Cabinet briefing, Finance Minister Prof. Mthuli Ncube said the measures go beyond simple cost-cutting.
“The impact of reducing and cutting these fees and levies will be instant,” he said.
“The number plate fee, previously US$500, is now US$50, yet production remains profitable. Local authority parking fees have been reduced by 50 percent.
“We are in a cutting mode to make doing business easier and to encourage investment.”
The Cabinet review also eliminated the US$23,000 duty on transit fuel payable to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), a move expected to ease fuel distribution and lower operational costs in the transport sector.
The duty will be repealed through a Statutory Instrument. Other fees, such as the US$30 electronic cargo system charge, have also been removed, while parking fees outside the Forbes Border Post in Mutare have been scrapped.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said the government has streamlined regulatory overlaps, rationalised licences and permits, and removed unnecessary levies to make the sector more efficient.
“The reviewed licences, permits, levies, and fees will undergo further refinements,” he said.
Cross-cutting fees affecting vehicle registration, licensing, and ownership transfers handled by the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), the Zimbabwe National Road Authority (ZINARA), and ZIMRA were also reviewed.
Prof. Ncube added that the presumptive tax on the transport sector is under review as part of efforts to create a more favourable business environment.
